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Browsing Faculty of Sciences by Author "ABE, Toluwase Patience"

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    Assessement of level of radioactivity and potentially toxic elements in locally pulverized plantain (musa paradislacal.) obtained from osun east senatorial district, Nigeria
    (The Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University., 2022) ABE, Toluwase Patience
    This study assessed the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in the locally produced plantain flour. It also determined the radioactivity levels in the locally produced flour and assessed the human health risk associated with the contaminants. These were with a view to providing information on the concentrations and health risks of the potentially toxic elements and radionuclides in locally produced plantain flour in the study area. Potentially toxic elements were identified by using Proton/Particle Induced X-ray Emission Spectrometry. Correlation, principal component and cluster analyses suggested probable natural and anthropogenic sources of the elements in the pulverized plantain. The Human Health-Risk Assessment of toxic elements was assessed on the basis of geo-Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Hazard Index (HI), Hazard Quotient (HQ), Carcinogenic Health Effect (Cr) and Ingestion Cancer Slope Factors. Gamma Ray Spectrometer was used to profile 238U, 232Th, and 40K levels in the samples. Activity Concentrations, Radium equivalent activity concentration index (Raeq), Absorbed Gamma Dose Rate (ADR), External Hazard Index (Hex), Internal Hazard Index (Hin), Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) and Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE) were subsequently evaluated. Twenty-seven elements were detected in the pulverized plantain samples and their concentrations determined. The concentration of elements analyzed in the pulverized plantain samples is in the order K > Cl > Mg > P > Sr > Ca > S > Si > Cd > Rb > Mo > Fe > Al > Ba > Br > Ti > Pb > Bi > Mn > Na > Ni > Cu > Cr > Sc > Zn > As > Co. The analysis of HI revealed extremely health risk. HQ values are lower than the Recommended value > 1 except Cu, Co, Ba, Cd, Pb and As which are comparatively higher. In the test pulverized plantain sample, the mean xvii activity concentrations of 40K, 232Th and 238U are 117.73 ± 2.52 Bq/kg, 1.66 ± 1.85 Bq/kg and 17.85 ± 17.61 Bq/kg respectively. For the control pulverized plantain samples, the mean activity concentrations of 40K, 232Th and 238U are 11.05±0.43 Bq/kg, 0.37±0.01 Bq/kg and 3.89±0.25 Bq/kg respectively. Although the ELCR calculated shows higher values compared to acceptable value of 2.9 x 10-3 stipulated by UNSCEAR the values of ADR, Raeq, Hex and Hin were significantly lower than or matched well with the permissible values indicating consumption safety for those who do not rely heavily on the consumption of pulverized plantain. The study concluded that the samples from the open markets of the study areas were contaminated with toxic elements, and could at long last pose major health problems to the consumers. However, the results obtained from the radioactivity level of the plantain were below their standard permissible limits. These assessments confirmed that the test pulverized plantain samples exhibited low gamma radiation